How to Use Document Templates in Microsoft Word

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This wikiHow teaches you how to select or create a template in Microsoft Word for Windows and Mac. Templates are pre-formatted documents designed for specific purposes, such as invoices, calendars, or résumés.

Method 1 of 6:

Selecting a Template on Windows

Step 1 Open Microsoft Word.

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Open Microsoft Word. Double-click the Word icon, which resembles a white "W" on a dark-blue background.

Step 2 Search for a template.

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Step 3 Select a template.

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Select a template. Click a template that you want to use. This will open it in a window where you can take a closer look at the template.

Step 4 Click Create.

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Click Create . It's to the right of the template preview. Doing so opens the template in a new Word document.

Step 5 Edit the template.

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Step 6 Save your document.

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Selecting a Template on Mac

Step 1 Open Microsoft word.

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Step 2 Click File.

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\n"> Click File . It's a menu item in the top-left side of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.

Step 3 Click New from Template.

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Click New from Template . You'll find this option near the top of the File drop-down menu. Clicking it opens the template gallery.

Step 4 Search for a template.

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Step 5 Select a template.

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\n"> Select a template. Click a template to open a preview window with the template displayed.

Step 6 Click Open.

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\n"> Click Open . It's in the preview window. This will open the template as a new document.

Step 7 Edit the template.

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Step 8 Save your document.

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Save your document. Click the File menu item, click Save As, enter a name for your document, and click Save.

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Applying a Template to an Existing Document on Windows

Step 1 Open your Microsoft Word document.

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Step 2 Click File.

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\n"> Click File . It's in the upper-left side of the page.

Step 3 Click Options.

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\n"> Click Options . You'll find this in the bottom-left side of the "File" page.

Step 4 Click the Add-ins tab.

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\n"> Click the Add-ins tab. It's on the left side of the Options window.

Step 5 Click the

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Click the "Manage" drop-down box. This box is at the bottom of the Add-Ins page. A drop-down menu will appear.

Step 6 Click Templates.

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\n"> Click Templates . It's near the middle of the drop-down menu.

Step 7 Click Go….

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\n"> Click Go… . This button is to the right of the "Manage" drop-down box.

Step 8 Click Attach….

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\n"> Click Attach… . It's in the upper-right side of the page.

Step 9 Select a template.

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\n"> Select a template. Click a template that you want to use.

Step 10 Click Open.

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\n"> Click Open . It's at the bottom of the Template window. This will open your template.

Step 11 Check the

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Check the "Automatically update document styles" box. You'll find this box below the template's name near the top of the page.

Step 12 Click OK.

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Click OK . It's at the bottom of the window. Doing so will apply your template's formatting to the document.

Step 13 Save your document.

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Save your document. Click File in the upper-left side of the page, click Save As, double-click a save location, enter your document's name, and click Save.

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Applying a Template to an Existing Document on Mac

Step 1 Open your Microsoft Word document.

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Step 2 Click Tools.

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Step 3 Click Templates & Add-Ins….

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Click Templates & Add-Ins… . It's an option near the bottom of the drop-down menu. Doing so opens a window.

Step 4 Click Attach.

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\n"> Click Attach . You'll find this in the Templates & Add-Ins window.

Step 5 Select a template.

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\n"> Select a template. Click a template that you want to apply to your document.

Step 6 Click Open.

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\n"> Click Open . Doing so will apply the template's formatting to your document.

Step 7 Save your document.

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Save your document. Click the File menu item, click Save As, enter a name for your document, and click Save.

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Creating a Template on Windows

Step 1 Open Microsoft Word.

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Step 2 Click the

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\n"> Click the "Blank document" template. It's in the upper-left side of the Word window.

Step 3 Edit your document.

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Step 4 Click File.

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\n"> Click File . It's a tab in the upper-left side of the page.

Step 5 Click Save As.

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\n"> Click Save As . This option is near the top of the File pop-out window.

Step 6 Select <a href=a save location." width="460" height="348" />

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Select a save location. Double-click a save folder or location here to set it as the template's storage spot.

Step 7 Enter a name for your template.

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\n"> Enter a name for your template. Type in the name you want to use for your template.

Step 8 Click the

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Click the "Save as type" drop-down box. It's below the file name text box. A drop-down menu will appear.

Step 9 Click Word Template.

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Step 10 Click Save.

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Creating a Template on Mac

Step 1 Open Microsoft Word.

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Step 2 Click the New tab.

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Step 3 Click the

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\n"> Click the "Blank Document" template. It's a white box. This will create a new Word document.

Step 4 Edit your document.

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Step 5 Click File.

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\n"> Click File . It's a menu item in the top-left side of the page.

Step 6 Click Save As Template.

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\n"> Click Save As Template . You'll see this option in the File drop-down menu.

Step 7 Enter a name for your template.

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\n"> Enter a name for your template. Type in the name you want to use for your template.

Step 8 Click the

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Click the "File Format" drop-down box. It's near the bottom of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.

Step 9 Click Microsoft Word template.

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Step 10 Click Save.

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Community Q&A

How do I save an edited template as a default template in Word? Community Answer

You can open HTML window in editor and you can place your code there. It will work if your editor has an edit HTML option.

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How can I use a template in Outlook? Community Answer

Prepare your template and save it as .oft (Outlook template). Next time you need it, go to the Home tab and select New Items / More Items / Choose Form / Look in: User Templates in File System and select your template.

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How do I add lines inside the text box? Community Answer

Draw them using the line tool in the box. On updated computers, go to insert>illustrations>shapes. On non-updated computers, go to insert>shape. You can also underline text by highlighting it, then going to home>underline text.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
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Ask a Question 200 characters left Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Advertisement Templates are extraordinarily helpful when invoicing or creating pamphlets. Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Please provide your name and last initial Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement You shouldn't have to pay for templates. Advertisement

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